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LED Throwies
by Q-Branch on February 14, 2006

Table of Contents

LED Throwies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro: LED Throwies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1: Materials List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 2: Test the LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 3: Tape the LED to the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Step 4: Tape the magnet to the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Step 5: Toss your Throwie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Step 6: Plan a campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Step 7: Other applications and upgrades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Throwies/
 Author:Q-Branch
I made weapons for the British government for over thirty-five years. Now that I am retired, I have gotten involved in outfitting graffiti writers and street artists
with state-of-the-art technology. I hope my gadgets can be of use to you. If you would indulge an old man, let me offer three life lessons:

1. Pay attention.
2. Return the equipment unharmed.
3. Try to be a little less than your frivolous self

http://graffitiresearchlab.com
http://fffff.at

Intro: LED Throwies

Developed by the Graffiti Research Lab a division of the Eyebeam R&D OpenLab, LED Throwies are an inexpensive way to add color to any ferromagnetic surface in
your neighborhood. A Throwie consists of a lithium battery, a 10mm diffused LED and a rare-earth magnet taped together. Throw it up high and in quantity to impress
your friends and city officials.

Click on this link to see the LED Throwies in action in NYC thanks to resitor and fi5e!

http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Throwies/
http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Throwies/
 Image Notes
1. over 270 LED throwies

Step 1: Materials List

LED throwies consist of only a few inexpensive parts and can be made for ~$1.00 per Throwie. You can reference the parts list below or download the attached
spreadsheet for more info on parts, part's numbers, vendors and application notes.

Part: 10mm Diffused LED

Vendor: HB Electronic Components
Average cost: $0.20 avg per LED
Notes: Cost reductions for larger quantities. Comes in red, blue, amber, white in both diffused and clear. Diffused works better than water clear for the Throwie
application. HB has even created a Throwies packs page with deals on 10mm LEDs and lithium batteries!

Part: CR2032 3V Lithium Batteries

Vendor: CheapBatteries.com
Cost: $0.25 per battery
Notes: Cost reductions for larger quantities. With the 2032 Lithium batter, depending on the weather and the LED color, your Throwie should last around 1 -2 weeks.

Part: 1-inch wide Strapping Tape

Vendor: Your local hardware store
Cost: $2.00 for one roll
Notes: One roll will make many throwies

Part: 1/2" Dia x 1/8" Thick NdFeB Disc Magnet, Ni-Cu-Ni plated
Vendor:Amazing Magnets
Cost: $13.00 per 25 magnets
Notes: Cost reductions for larger quantities

Part: Conductive Epoxy

Vendor: Newark In One
Cost: $32.00
Notes: The epoxy is optional.

http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Throwies/
 Image Notes Image Notes
1. CR2032 lithium batteries 1. To use the epoxy, mix in equal parts A and B. Mix well. Then apply to leads and
2. 2-inch wide strapping. We tore it into two 1-inch stripes. preload them into the battery contact surfaces. Allow a a few hours to dry and 24
3. 10mm LED, diffused, multiple colors hours to cure..
4. Strong little rare-earth magnet 2. Conductive epoxy is optional. IT will improve brightness and robustness but it is
time and labor intensive

File Downloads

LedThrowiesPartsList.pdf (55 KB)

[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'LedThrowiesPartsList.pdf']
Step 2: Test the LED
Test your LED to determine color, brightness and functionality. Pinch the LED legs, or leads, to the battery terminals. The longer LED lead, called the anode, should be
touching the positive terminal (+) of the battery and the shorter LED lead, called the cathode, should be touching the negative terminal (-) of the battery.

Note that the positive terminal on the battery has a larger contact surface than the negative terminal. The positive terminal extends around the sides of the battery. Don't
let the cathode lead of the LED accidentally touch the positive terminal of the battery. This will create a short and cause the LED to function improperly.

For more information on LEDs click here.

For more information on batteries click here.

Image Notes
1. anode lead
2. cathode or K lead

http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Throwies/
 Image Notes
1. andode lead touching the positive terminal

Image Notes
1. notice how the positive terminal extends around the edge of the battery.

http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Throwies/
Step 3: Tape the LED to the battery
Cut off a piece of 1-inch wide strapping tape approximately 7-inches long. Tape the LED leads to the battery by wrapping tape 2-3 times around both sides of the battery.
Keep the tape very tight as you wrap.

The LED should not be flickering.

Image Notes
1. Keep up the tension!

Image Notes
1. To use the epoxy, mix in equal parts A and B. Mix well. Then apply to leads and
preload them into the battery contact surfaces. Allow a a few hours to dry and 24
hours to cure..
2. Conductive epoxy is optional. IT will improve brightness and robustness but it is
time and labor intensive

http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Throwies/
Step 4: Tape the magnet to the battery
Now, place the magnet on the positive terminal of the battery and continue to tightly wrap the tape. The magnet should be held firmly to the battery.

If the magnet is stuck to a ferromagnetic surface, dont pull on the LED throwie. Apply a lateral force to the magnet and slide it off the surface while lifting it with a
fingernail or tool.

Remember to keep the magnet away from conventional hardrives, credit cards and other data storage devices.

Image Notes Image Notes

1. the magnet is taped the positive terminal of the battery 1. tightly!

Step 5: Toss your Throwie

The LED throwie is ready to be tossed onto a ferromagnetic surface. Practice tossing your throwies. Work on your accuracy and your own personal technique. Every
throwie wont stick every time, but if you toss them gently, they will stick eventually. Get them up high and in large quantities for greatest enjoyment.

Image Notes
1. Look at J-pizzles follow-through on this green throwie

http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Throwies/
 Image Notes
1. Toss the Throwie by the battery/magnet bundle.

Image Notes
1. LED throwie horse-shoes

http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Throwies/
 Image Notes
1. The structural columns inside Eyebeam are perfect for throwies

Image Notes
1. Led Throwies make people do things like this!

Step 6: Plan a campaign

Now, find a building or structure that will attract the magnets, form a crew, wait until night, and get some throwies up. If you do it around a crowd of people, they will
probably try to get into the act. It can quickly dissend into chaotic fun. Give a hand-full of throwies to a stranger and let them get up too. Remember, Throwies are only a
temporary alteration of your local environment. Depending on the color, Throwies can last upto two weeks, but you arent going to cause any permanent damage, so most
property owners wont mind. And The NYPD loves throwies!

Click on this link to see the LED Throwies in action!

http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Throwies/
 Image Notes
1. Jim Kempner Fine Arts was the location of the first LED Throwie campaign in
NYC.

Image Notes
1. People will take the LEDs off the wall and throw them back or pocket them.

http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Throwies/
 Image Notes
1. The people got into the action by tossing Throwies as a family.

Step 7: Other applications and upgrades

Other applications:

Other than tossing it, you can also use your LED throwie to write in the air with light while taking a long exposure flick. You can put them on your bike as an additional
reflector. You can put the on surveillance cameras to make them more visible at night. You can use them to play a version of bocci ball on a magnetic surface in the dark.

Upgrades:

You can make a better LED throwie by using shrink tubing on each lead to make sure they don't short to each other or the battery. This upgrade will allow you to bend the
LED so it faces in the direction you choose. You can also dip the throwie in epoxy, silicon or potting compound to make an all-weather LED Throwie. A resistor in series
would allow you to increase the throwie shelf-life. Bigger batteries = longer life. Stronger magnets = increased stick probability. You could add a solar panel, photocell,
etc...Have fun.

User Upgrades:

Flickr instructional set for thowie on/off switch mod -- by A. Joyce, aka. EverythingDigital

http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Throwies/
 Image Notes
1. Fi5e

Related Instructables

How To Start
Your Own
Graffiti
Research Lab
All Surface LED LED Throwie by fi5e
Auto On/Off My LED LED Throwie -
Throwies by Talkie by
LED Throwie by Throwies by Instant
SniperNinja pcunning Messanger
fkhalsa zildjian
Tube by
adambehman

Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 1223 comments

everythingdigital says: Feb 25, 2006. 6:33 PM REPLY

I have posted a how-to on making throwies with removable tabs where you can pull it out to turn the LED on and slide it back in to turn it bad off. It's not very
hard to implement, and is quite useful for conserving battery power.

Here's the link: http://flickr.com/photos/everythingdigital/sets/72057594069888500/

I'm also working on throwies that automatically turn on upon sticking to something and off when they are removed (as suggested above), and I have a few
prototypes working but there are still some bugs to work out.

Q-Branch says: Feb 26, 2006. 10:52 AM REPLY

I have included your how-to on the G.R.L. Throwies site and in the upgrade section of the throwies instructables post. Thanks so much for the mods and
looking forward to the next rev!

sensoryhouse says: Oct 15, 2007. 12:43 AM REPLY

fun with LED throwies

http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Throwies/
 Kirbsome! says: Nov 26, 2009. 10:50 AM REPLY
INTRODUCING:

Throwies on steroids -
The LED ULTRIE!

7 LEDs arranged in a ring

frenzy says: Jun 14, 2010. 11:51 AM REPLY

I have great news, you are today's winner of the "I Made It" Challenge for the month of june. Thank you so much for being a part of the instructables
community and encouraging authors to post more projects!

For winning you are receiving a 3 month pro-membership.

http://www.instructables.com/community/June-is-I-Made-It-Challenge-Month-Win-a-Pro-Mem/

BrantHansil says: Mar 30, 2011. 1:12 PM REPLY

Just found a great trick for these guys, use coated paper clips. I have had trouble with the tape not being tight enough, causing the led to dim or entirely lose
the connection. Not so with the paper clips! They keep the leads tight, are super quick to put on, and are super cheap themselves. You can also use the clip
for strings or anything else you need to attach to the throwie. Note that I am using mine for lanterns and various things, not as throwies, so I am not using a
magnet. The thickness added by the magnet might be too much for these little paper clips. Maybe you could use two.

ymalik says: Mar 25, 2011. 2:42 AM REPLY

Wow, Its really very best and useful site for all, logo design , I am using it from a long time . I like it .

ilpug says: Feb 10, 2011. 5:24 PM REPLY

Amazing. i have heard that you can dissasemble "AA" size cell batteries and get small button magnets such as these. how long do those last, and would you
reccomend it?

jpoopdog says: Mar 14, 2011. 4:11 AM REPLY

yes its true, the type of battery you want is a small high voltage battery like a 23A 12v (23A is the model number not the amperage, the capacity is only
140ma), form which youll get 3 x 3v 140ma batteries and if you buy off ebay for $2, each, youll get them at a rate of 0.25c per batttery, which defies the
point of ever disassembling them at all.
however the alkaline batteries should produce button cells at reduced prices if you buy in the hundreds.

otherwise dont even bother

ilpug says: Mar 14, 2011. 3:22 PM REPLY

thanks man

nerfer192 says: Feb 24, 2011. 1:09 PM REPLY

only certain camera batterys will have smaller batteries inside. im pretty sure if you take a part a AA battery it will just leak all over you.

fkhalsa says: Mar 5, 2011. 1:07 AM REPLY

I just posted an instructable for my mod that allows the throwie to stay off until it's stuck to something. It's just as simple as the original throwie, and doesn't
require any more parts.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Auto-OnOff-LED-Throwie/

The Auto ON/OFF Throwie is always off, until you stick it to something, at which point it turns on!
When you remove it, it turns back off.
Good for saving battery while making a bunch of these, and cooler in general because it only turns on when you need it to turn on!

http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Throwies/
 Credit for the idea goes to the comment below, where the commenter mentions this idea, though the implementation is mine.

Kanellos says: Mar 4, 2011. 7:40 PM REPLY

Heres a question...How long do they last?

cool knex13 says: Feb 19, 2011. 4:14 AM REPLY

cool

ostomesto says: Feb 18, 2011. 4:45 PM REPLY

i am either going to shoot these out of my blowdart gun. or just tape a couple togather to make a sicka$$ tracer round for my patatoe gun :)

snow2801 says: Aug 24, 2010. 2:18 PM REPLY

how can they be a temporary alteration? They will still be there even when the battery has run out as the magnet will hold them in place, they could be too
high to be removed.

ilpug says: Feb 10, 2011. 5:25 PM REPLY

big deal.

Dipankar says: Jan 7, 2010. 3:31 PM

(removed by author or community request)

soremite says: Jan 13, 2011. 6:13 PM REPLY

Useless?

Are you kidding me?

No more useless than "HANG YOUR GIRLFRIEND with scotch tape".

Not useless at all if you like LEDs.

Dipankar says: Jan 14, 2011. 6:51 AM REPLY

I am sorry if it hurt you but really in the long run it serves no purpose, and I am entitled to my opinion.
"HANG YOUR GIRLFRIEND with scotch tape". was just a joke don't take it seriously.

Nutrition Man says: Jan 2, 2011. 12:30 AM REPLY

And then you can go and collect them when they die, reuse the LEDs, recycle the batteries!

manutea says: Sep 19, 2010. 2:11 PM REPLY

I agree...sorry

ericman37 says: Mar 29, 2010. 1:30 PM REPLY

Hey, I was able to make 100 of these for under $0.30/each by getting all my stuff on ebay. only prob is it's mostly from china so shipping is kinda slow.
But they make great party decorations and you can't find better decorations for the price I think!
P.S. I put some in clear and frosted balloons and then plow them up and tie and float 'em on my pool, they look awesome!

sammyd901 says: May 18, 2010. 5:46 PM REPLY

Right you are i bought some laser diodes from hong kong and waited for like 2 months for them to arive.

dylanjackson says: Jan 6, 2011. 2:01 PM REPLY

can you use 3mm leds

roflbot says: Nov 20, 2010. 10:55 PM REPLY

how long would the batteries last?

http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Throwies/
 Nutrition Man says: Jan 2, 2011. 12:29 AM REPLY
About 2 days I think...

ylpihs says: Oct 7, 2010. 7:26 AM REPLY

Are these the ones featured in the latest "Step Up 3D" movie?

csoldier83 says: Dec 24, 2010. 4:10 AM REPLY

yes and no
they were featured BUT they were copied

k247br says: Dec 24, 2010. 2:04 AM REPLY

i think that is true.maybe you should think about it.
if it were entirely based on current limitation and not voltage, wouldn't hooking a 12V LED up to a car battery which is capable of pushing 300 CCA require a
massive amount of resistance, compared to, say, hooking one up to 4 CR2303 batteries in series?

this is you web site :http://www.magical-led.com

bboyx3 says: Dec 19, 2010. 1:17 PM REPLY

you should have not coppied that off a book

genericanonymity says: Nov 29, 2010. 9:35 PM REPLY

"Note that the positive terminal on the battery has a larger contact surface than the negative terminal. The positive terminal extends around the sides of the
battery. Don't let the cathode lead of the LED accidentally touch the positive terminal of the battery. This will create a short and cause the LED to function
improperly."

Is this particularly common? I'm hoping to let people choose their own colors for an LED project, so I'm not intending to attach all LEDs to a battery in
advance of the project.
If you know any good tricks to avoid letting the cathode lead from contacting the positive side of the battery, what are they?

bobthedog says: Nov 29, 2010. 6:04 PM REPLY

hey before you go ranting here about how we are going to damage the environment and kill the planet by entertaining ourselves, why don't you go attack the
movie industry for example. They spend billions of dollars making useless explosions and waste huge amounts of resources for a little bit of entertainment.
Keep it in perspective buddy. The effect this will have on anything is negligible and the effect you're going to have on people's opinion is even smaller

h3idi says: Nov 23, 2010. 9:43 AM REPLY

Dealextreme.com for batteries, LED's AND magnets. Free shipping worldwide. I don't work for 'em, I just love 'em. A couple weeks' wait...

thepelton says: Nov 18, 2010. 10:59 AM REPLY

If you substituted a velcro hook patch for the magnet, you could attach it to wool clothes.

joseph 101 says: Nov 17, 2010. 5:32 PM REPLY

know it all

coastus says: Nov 16, 2010. 4:54 AM REPLY

I have a question about: led strips. What do I need to connect it? I would like to connect led strips for a 17 feet line. I could find some information in this
article How to resize a led strip , but what do I exactly need? And how can I create the right length.

solarblade90 says: Oct 23, 2010. 5:21 PM REPLY

this is really cool!

brunovenga says: Oct 23, 2010. 1:05 PM REPLY

It's really great what you're doing! have you ever tried doing this on clothes? i mean trying to throw the leds, and once they get near your clothes they light
up?
do you think it's possible?

Shagi says: Oct 22, 2010. 4:01 AM REPLY

HOW about if you could modify these 2 last longer......try puttin an LDR r smtin.....im gonna make this bt can u tell me if this works......

http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Throwies/
 psmeredith4 says: Sep 28, 2010. 1:01 PM REPLY
These are too cool, Are they being made commercially? I would like to see them here ! I think they wouls sell very well, since people are always looking for
something different.

mohtaprashantrocks says: Sep 26, 2010. 12:28 AM REPLY

i found it pretty nice .................................

ezeco says: Sep 9, 2010. 2:51 AM REPLY

yes i really like a display screen in my house, nor matter what it takes me to have it will do it.

woodstockdirdy says: Sep 3, 2010. 5:22 PM REPLY

how many darn led's are in the picture????

Mainz says: Aug 25, 2010. 8:01 AM REPLY

would the LEDs still be as bright if you put 3 or 4 on a single battery, I know it would go flat quicker but I think they would look cooler

jakebaldwin says: Aug 7, 2010. 12:53 PM REPLY

These were in Step Up 3D, called neoflies or something. Seemed almost like they took the idea from you.

fritzle says: Feb 9, 2010. 7:56 AM REPLY

Hi there,
aren't the LEDs and batteries harmfull to the enviroment, just toxic waste once they're burned out???

alancj says: Jul 16, 2010. 4:21 PM REPLY

So much debate... yet nobody has answered if the components are particularly bad. The battery in my view is the only thing potentially harmful. But not
all batteries contain heavy metals by definition. Lithium batteries contain, well, lithium and either manganese, copper oxide, or carbon. None of which are
toxic. The led's are sealed in a plastic case, and the magnets are pretty innocuous. So Chill out! just don't get the mercury chemistry button cells... that
have been made illegal for general use since 1997. If you are worried about energy used to make the parts here is a rule of thumb. --- If it is expensive it
used a lot of energy. ---- Think about it for a few minutes and you'll see why. There's a few exceptions but you'll know it when you see it.

jpjp.xx says: May 19, 2010. 12:37 AM REPLY

keep your hair on lolage totaly

zack247 says: May 9, 2010. 9:35 AM REPLY

but the leds wont be burnt out, just the batteies are. the batteris can go to a recycling plant, and the leds and magnets could be reused

view all 1223 comments

http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Throwies/